By Odeisel

Philly Emcee Has-Lo has been on a journey of gritty self discovery in an attempt to manifest his own destiny. His joureny has found him facing his own demons while making an earnest attempt at pushing for his break through. His music is gritty and genuine; capturing the full essence of the streets without the gloss and trappings that so many other emcees lean on in rhyme. This entry in his street diary enlists producer Kev Brown for the track “Never Was Yours,” from Has-Lo’s coming November 15th  project, Conversation B.“Never Was Yours” is a bare-bones take on the cold world and its bleak, punishing nature. As with much of Has’ work there is an undercurrent of transience and the recognization that nothing lasts forever and all runs end. tark look at life’s often unforgiving path.  We age, we suffer loss, we compromise our ideals when survival is key. We suffer hardship. And it’s life. Not luck, but the nature of life on Earth that is the only surety.  The ultimate inescapability of this is present in Has’ restrained, measured tones. There is a sadness and a resolute resignation to his timbre but not enough to signal despair. He notes:

I compete to win though I lose myself  / In a penthouse room, with a view from hell

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Kev Brown’s beat features a dirty guitar sample and an understated drum, topped off by a vocal smaple for the appropriate garnish.

Has-Lo is one of the most honest emcees around, with a gift for framing his journey as an everyman’s struggle to fight off the temptation delivered daily. He teeters on the brink with a requited desperation that has him close to Mel’s edge. Only Has never wonders how he keeps from going under. To the forces that attempt to break him he says the decision “Never Was Yours.” Amen.

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